Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-07
ROYAL HUNTING IN ERSIA.
The shah After Big Game. Such As
Wild Asses Tigers and Autelopes.


The shah is mighty hunter, good
shot and an enthusiastic sportsman. Big
game is his delight. Tie king, like all
the .portsmen of his country, uses
smooth bore and a bullet. OF course,
royal hunts are to certain extent
battucS.
4 strange incident of eastern life, but
true one occurred some twelve years ago
at one of these royal huntings. As suSual,
a couple of regiments accompanied the
shah on his hunting party. The men
acted as beaters tiger was wounded,
and was making of under the kings
eyes. The royal second barrel was dis
charged, but did not kill the wounded
animal. Fearful of losing his quarry, the
king was reluading muZzle leaders are
still preferred by Persians), when prl-
yate soldier seized the tiger by the tail
and detained him long enough for the
shah to dispatch the animal. His mai
esty made that soldier a captain on the
spot.
Wild asses-the favorite chase of the
old Persians, who shot them from the sad
die with arrOws-are hunted with relays
of dogs. The only time to shoot them Is
| when the young are at the mothers heel
So swift and timid are they that IL is I'M
possible to get any but chance shot at
them under any other circumstances. The
young asses are often taken with grey
hounds. The mothers are shot from the
saddle; for Persian sportsman, though
| he never shoots flying for fear of wasting
| his charge is very good shot from the
saddle, and will often kill antelope or other
game when going at full speed. The
secret of success in shooting from the sad
| die is that the marksman's horse should
| be going ventre terre. The flesh of the
Young ass is food for kings. Antelope,
| save when with young at their heel, are
seldom secured by a single dog, but are
| easily run down by relays of greyhounds
or shot from the saddle by posted horse
men, the antelope being driven toward,
them by greyhounds.
Hawking is a favorite pastime in Persia
| Every great Parsonage has his falconer
and his falconry; every little squireen his
partridge hawks and pair of greyhounds.
| A Persian turns out at early dawn and
| lies in ambush behind rock for partridges
| which come to drink in the morning at
| some spring At the right moment he fires
| both barrels into them, and kills or wounds
many; six or eight brace is no uncommon
| bag for the two shots of the shikari. He
then runs up and cuts their throats TO
make them lawful Though many are al
ready dead, and walks home, having done
| a good days work. For six brace of birds
| he will get about two shillings.
Water fowl are got in the same I'M
| sportsmanlike manner. The Villager,
| hidden behind low wall built for the
purpose, fires into pack of them Quail
which gives splendid sport in the high
| Ilt- in
| usually netted; bamboo call being used
| to attract them. This call initiates ac-
| curately enough the challenge of the male
| bird, and the cock quail, the most pug
| nacious of birds. never refuses chal-
| lenge. The doraj is shot in the noun
| tains, and. as it only runs, is an easy vic
tim 1t weighs often four pounds, is gray
in color, and exquisite eating. IL is, how
ever, rarely obtained, as 1t affects high
and inaccessible rocks.
| Wild geese are shot either in the flock at
night or Ill the daytime by stalking; for
| wild geese If they do not see the gun,
may be approached with ease. The dou-
BILE snipe is well known, though not often
seen in Europe, il is about twice the size
of our bird. and makes a most delicate
dish. WoOdcock are numerous Hares
and antelope, partridges, quail and
pigeons are hawked; while the two former
are also coursed, and so is the hubara
(bustard The sand grouse or bagh-a-
ghulla, which word fairly represents its
cry, is an easy prey. The flock of from
six TO a dozen birds is seen in the open
plain. The sportsman approaches very
leisurely If on horseback he may get TO
within thirty yards; he then blazes into
the middle of the pack, while on the
ground, with both barrels, and often
makes good bag. Food is what he
wants, not sport--St. james Gazette.